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KENNESAW, Ga. – Chaston Bennett totaled a school-record 241 all-purpose yards and scored a pair of touchdowns but it wasn't enough for Kennesaw State, which dropped a 36-21 decision to Liberty on Homecoming at Fifth Third Bank Stadium Saturday night.
 
Bennett reeled in a 43-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Burks to pull the Owls within 26-21 with 12:30 left in the game, but the Flames scored the game's final nine points to hold off KSU's comeback bid.
 
A sell-out crowd of 8,803 – the ninth sellout in 10 all-time home games – snapped Kennesaw State's (4-2, 0-1) four-game winning streak, while Liberty improved to 3-3, 1-0.
 
Burks carried a game-high 28 times for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Bennett finished with 76 yards on the ground, 41 yards receiving and a school-record 124 yards in kickoff returns. Xavier Harper caught five passes for a career-high 88 yards.
 
"Our kids played hard tonight and fought," said head coach Brian Bohannon, "I thought Liberty came to play and we did not execute well enough to win. You learn from it and build on this and get ready for next week."
 
Bennett broke off a 63-yard touchdown run with 2:18 left in the first half, giving the Owls the lead at 14-13, but Liberty marched right down the field and reclaimed the lead for good with a touchdown pass from Stephen Calvert to B.J. Farrow with nine ticks left.
 
Calvert finished the night 22-of-30 passing for 211 yards and a touchdown. Todd Macon and Carrington Mosley each rushed for touchdowns for the Flames.
 
Kennesaw State seized an early 7-0 lead when the hosts capitalized on a fumbled punt deep in Liberty territory. Burks capped the abbreviated drive with a one-yard touchdown rush – his ninth this season.
 
But Liberty scored the game's next 13 points – a 99-yard kickoff return for touchdown by Frankie Hickson and a pair of field goals from 47 and 50 yards from Alex Probert to open a 13-7 lead.
 
Probert also connected on another 47-yard field goal to make it 29-21 with 7:29 left.
 
The Owls, who did not commit a turnover, out-gained the Flames 472-414.
 
Kennesaw State returns to action next Saturday at Gardner-Webb. The game kicks off at 12 p.m. and can be seen on Peachtree TV.



POST-GAME #NESTNOTES

HOMECOMING SELLOUT
Fifth Third Bank Stadium and the Owls hosted their 2016 Homecoming game Saturday night with a sellout crowd of 8,803 in attendance. The crowd was the second-largest crowd in program history (9,506 vs. Edward Waters). It is the ninth sellout in the program's 10 all-time home games. 
 
CB3 LIKES THE NUMBER SIX
Sophomore QB Chandler Burks accounted for a 141 yards in the air and 98 yards on the ground and two touchdowns (one rush, one pass). Burks has now been responsible for 15 of the Owls' 31 TDs this season (nine rush, five pass).
 
TWO MORE FOR BENNETT
For the second consecutive week, senior RB Chaston Bennett found the end zone twice. He exploded for 63 yards in the second quarter to give KSU a 14-13 edge, marking the second-longest rushing attempt in program history. He then hauled in his fourth career touchdown reception in the fourth quarter with a 43-yard connection from Burks. For the game, Bennett broke a school record for all-purpose yards (241) and kickoff return yards (124).
 
QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE
For the third consecutive week, Kennesaw State scored with a one-play drive when Chandler Burks quickly connected with Chaston Bennett for a 43-yard TD pass to pull the Owls within 26-21 with 12:30 remaining in the game.
 
RALLS SETS A NEW MARK
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Akebren Ralls set a new school mark with 12 tackles (10 solo) versus Liberty. The previous KSU record of 10 tackles had been set on seven previous occasions.
 
ANOTHER TURNOVER
Kennesaw State won the turnover battle on the night, recovering a fumble in the first half which later capitalized with a touchdown. KSU entered the game ranked seventh in the nation and first in the Big South in turnover margin (+6). The Owls scored a touchdown off the turnover and are now a +35 in points-off-turnover scoring this season (51-16).

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